The NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, and as of right now, the Houston Texans are slated to make the 28th overall pick in the draft. Now, keep in mind, that the Texans haven’t used their own first round pick since selecting C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick in the 2023 draft.
The last two drafts, Nick Caserio has opted to move out of the first round altogether, waiting until the 42nd overall pick in 2024, where he selected Kamari Lassiter (great pick), and waiting until the 34th overall pick in 2025, where he took Jayden Higgins (solid pick). Caserio could very well trade back again this week. We’ll see.
Either way, eventually the Texans will make SOMEONE their first pick of this draft, either late Thursday night or sometime on Friday, when Rounds 2 and 3 of the draft take place. If you’d like to wager on what position their first selection plays, I have good news! You can wager on that! Courtesy of Bet Online, here are the odds on each position being the position of choice for the Texans’ first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, along with my prediction of an actual name of a player at each position:
OFFENSIVE LINE -145
I think the Texans will draft an offensive lineman with one of their first few picks, I’m just certain it will be with their first pick, and thus -145 does not feel like great value. However, if they do choose one, Clemson’s Blake Miller has been the most mock drafted offensive lineman to the Texans at 28th overall.
DEFENSIVE LINE/EDGE +160
This is nice value here, because you’re sort of getting two positions — interior defensive line and edge rusher — for one price. This is where I’d place my money, and I’d predict a selection of Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald.
LINEBACKER +850
Right now, the Texans’ top two linebackers are in the final year of their contracts. That would be Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’o To’o. Perhaps the Texans are looking for the next player to wear the “green dot” on his helmet as the leader of the defense. Georgia’s C.J. Allen would be a fine pick at 28th or 38th overall.
WIDE RECEIVER +1400
The more I look at the Texans’ wide receiver room, the more I think they could go for a wideout at 28th overall. The question that Nick Caserio would need to ask himself, should a suitable pass catcher fall to 28th, is “Is this guy better than Jayden Higgins?” If the answer is “yes,” then they have to seriously consider taking him. Indiana’s Omar Cooper might be a “yes.”
CORNERBACK +1800
Similarly, I think cornerback is a sneaky position to look at. The Texans’ two starting corners are among the best in football, but they need depth there, and long term, can the Texans afford Stingley and Lassiter on $30 million deals (once Lassiter becomes extension eligible next season). Tennessee’s Colton Hood would be a good selection here.
SAFETY +2200
This is one position that I’d be fairly stunned to see the Texans use the 28th or even the 38th overall selection on, but if Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman were to fall to those spots, there’s a good chance he’s the “best player available,” a label Nick Caserio insists the Texans use as their compass for making picks.
RUNNING BACK +2200
I haven’t seen a ton of running back activity for the Texans in mock drafts, especially since the David Montgomery trade. However, if the Texans move out of the first round, and their best pick is the 38th overall pick, that could be a spot to take Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price, who was the backup to top RB in this draft, Jeremiyah Love, in South Bend.
TIGHT END +2500
This is my wild card! I don’t think there is a tight end that fits getting drafted where the Texans currently sit. Other than Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, who is slated to go in the top 20 picks, all the other tight ends feel like mid-second round or later. So what about a trade up for Sadiq? What about another weapon for C.J. Stroud? At 25 to 1, why not?
QUARTERBACK +7000
SPECIALIST (kicker, punter) +20000
I have no names for either of these positions, as there is a zero percent chance the Texans draft a quaretrback or a specialist with their first pick. You’d have more fun lighting a cigar with a $100 bill than wagering $100 on either of these props.
